US6783484B2 - Machine tool with gripper and/ or tool magazine system - Google Patents

Machine tool with gripper and/ or tool magazine system Download PDF

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Publication number
US6783484B2
US6783484B2 US09/918,457 US91845701A US6783484B2 US 6783484 B2 US6783484 B2 US 6783484B2 US 91845701 A US91845701 A US 91845701A US 6783484 B2 US6783484 B2 US 6783484B2
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United States
Prior art keywords
tool
gripper
shank
gripper according
groove
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Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US09/918,457
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English (en)
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US20020028735A1 (en
Inventor
Hans-Dieter Müller
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Grob Werke GmbH and Co KG
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Grob Werke Dr hc mult Dipl Ing Burkhart Grob eK
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Assigned to GROB-WERKE DR. H.C. MULT. DIPL.-ING. BURKHART GROB E.K. reassignment GROB-WERKE DR. H.C. MULT. DIPL.-ING. BURKHART GROB E.K. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: MULLER, HANS-DIETER
Publication of US20020028735A1 publication Critical patent/US20020028735A1/en
Priority to US10/920,242 priority Critical patent/US7175579B2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US6783484B2 publication Critical patent/US6783484B2/en
Assigned to GROB-WERKE GMBH & CO. KH reassignment GROB-WERKE GMBH & CO. KH ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: GROB-WERKE BURKHART GROB E.K.
Assigned to GROB-WERKE GMBH & CO. KG reassignment GROB-WERKE GMBH & CO. KG ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: GROB-WERKE BURKHART GROB E.K.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
    • B23Q3/00—Devices holding, supporting, or positioning work or tools, of a kind normally removable from the machine
    • B23Q3/155—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling
    • B23Q3/1552—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling parts of devices for automatically inserting or removing tools
    • B23Q3/15526—Storage devices; Drive mechanisms therefor
    • B23Q3/15536—Non-rotary fixed racks
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
    • B23Q11/00—Accessories fitted to machine tools for keeping tools or parts of the machine in good working condition or for cooling work; Safety devices specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, machine tools
    • B23Q11/08—Protective coverings for parts of machine tools; Splash guards
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
    • B23Q11/00—Accessories fitted to machine tools for keeping tools or parts of the machine in good working condition or for cooling work; Safety devices specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, machine tools
    • B23Q11/10—Arrangements for cooling or lubricating tools or work
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
    • B23Q7/00—Arrangements for handling work specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, machine tools, e.g. for conveying, loading, positioning, discharging, sorting
    • B23Q7/04—Arrangements for handling work specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, machine tools, e.g. for conveying, loading, positioning, discharging, sorting by means of grippers
    • B23Q7/043—Construction of the grippers
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S414/00—Material or article handling
    • Y10S414/124—Roll handlers
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S483/00—Tool changing
    • Y10S483/901—Robot end effectors
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S483/00—Tool changing
    • Y10S483/902—Tool grippers
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T483/00—Tool changing
    • Y10T483/17—Tool changing including machine tool or component
    • Y10T483/1733—Rotary spindle machine tool [e.g., milling machine, boring, machine, grinding machine, etc.]
    • Y10T483/1748—Tool changer between spindle and matrix
    • Y10T483/1752—Tool changer between spindle and matrix including tool holder pivotable about axis
    • Y10T483/1779—Linearly movable tool holder
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T483/00—Tool changing
    • Y10T483/18—Tool transfer to or from matrix
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T483/00—Tool changing
    • Y10T483/18—Tool transfer to or from matrix
    • Y10T483/1809—Matrix including means to latch tool
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T483/00—Tool changing
    • Y10T483/18—Tool transfer to or from matrix
    • Y10T483/1818—Matrix including means to project tool for transfer

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a tool magazine system for a machining spindle, comprising a gripper which picks up tools from a tool magazine, guides them to a machining spindle, for example of a machining center or machine tool, and passes them to said spindle.
  • Tool magazine systems of this type are well known.
  • machine tools such as machining centers, cutting machines or lathes, particularly for the metal-processing industry
  • their function is to make a wide variety of tools available in rapid sequence according to the predetermined machining steps of the tool spindle.
  • the tools in question are generally cutting tools such as drills or milling cutters.
  • the known solution has the disadvantage that the arrangement of the tool magazine, in which several hundred very different tools are stored, takes up a very large space.
  • Known systems pick up the tools from above, which necessitates a flat arrangement of the tools adjacent one another.
  • the manipulator which handles the gripper needs a corresponding amount of space, resulting in very large installations.
  • the object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved tool magazine system of the type described above, so as to enable a larger number of tools to be accommodated in the tool magazine system, while maintaining the same area requirement.
  • the present invention provides a tool magazine system for a machining spindle, comprising a gripper which picks up tools from a tool magazine, guides them to a machining spindle and passes them to a spindle wherein said gripper is fed to said tool laterally with respect to the axis of rotation, or longitudinal axis, of said tool, particularly substantially at right angles to that axis, and should grasp said tool.
  • This construction according to the invention allows tools to be superimposed along the longitudinal axis, vertically in the case of a rack, yet allows said tools to be grasped and transported securely. As it is in principle possible to store a plurality of tools above each other there is no problem in having said tool magazine in the form of a rack, and hence the area requirement can be considerably reduced.
  • the invention is in no way restricted to having said tools superimposed along the longitudinal axis, e.g. vertically. Similarly it may also be applied to existing tool magazines where said tools are e.g. juxtaposed flat or offset in a stepped arrangement. Said tool magazine system according to the invention can also accommodate tools stored in a lying position, i.e. tools with their longitudinal axis substantially horizontal.
  • the gripper approaches the tool laterally with respect to the longitudinal/rotational axis of said tool.
  • movement substantially along the longitudinal or rotational axis was envisaged (usually vertically from above), as the gripper means grasped said tool or tool shank in an axial direction.
  • said gripper is arranged on a manipulator and mounted for multi-axial movement.
  • There may for example be a five or six-axis system with three translatory axes and two, three or even more rotational axes being provided for the gripper.
  • a drip trough for collecting dispersed cooling liquid is provided below the tool magazine, and said drip trough is connected to the cooling liquid circuit.
  • the tool is sprayed with cooling liquid, firstly to lower its temperature and secondly to float away the detached chips.
  • Said cooling liquid is in a circuit and, when the floated-off particles have been cleaned or filtered off, the liquid is fed by a pumping system to the tool or workpiece and sprayed onto the tool or workpiece at high pressure.
  • the particular step in the operation is terminated the dripping wet tool is removed from the work spindle or machining head by the gripper and transported back into the magazine.
  • the cooling liquid clinging to it is also dispersed into the tool magazine. While the tool is out of action the liquid drips off it and is caught in the drip trough proposed according to the invention, which returns the collected liquid to the cooling liquid circuit.
  • a drip sheet is provided in the storage means for the tools, so that the tool below it is protected from the liquid as by a rain canopy.
  • the invention further provides a gripper for taking hold of, conveying and/or passing on a tool, particularly for conveying a tool from a tool magazine to a work spindle, the tool in particular having a shank, wherein a groove, recess or shoulder with which a first member of the gripper interacts is provided in the surface of the shank or tool, and a second member of the gripper interacts with a different region of the shank or tool.
  • an improved gripper is similarly proposed, allowing the tool to be grasped substantially at right angles or laterally with respect to its preferred axis.
  • Two different, competitive systems are substantially known for grasping tools.
  • One is a so-called flap system, where two elements are moved axially or at an acute angle to that axis and the flaps are constructed so that they engage in the shoulders and shanks or, respectively, in slots or grooves in the tool and are held therein.
  • Another principle operates like tongs, that is to say, the tool is picked up in an axial direction.
  • special undercut portions, shoulders and the like on the tool or tool shank are regularly used to hold the tool.
  • the tool it is often also desirable for the tool to be passed from one gripper to another, e.g. for a first gripper to take it out of the magazine and a second gripper to be responsible for inserting the tool in the work head/spindle.
  • the known principles do not apply here, as they are generally only unilateral, i.e. they only allow the tool to be grasped at one side by the gripper.
  • the form of gripper now proposed according to the invention therefore also allows another gripper system, namely one approaching the tool laterally or at right angles according to the movement of the gripper.
  • the second member of the gripper should lie against the surface of the shank or the outside diameter of the tool.
  • the second member is shaped so that it need not be held on shoulders, axial slots and the like, as was necessary in the prior art. Instead the second member is positioned on the surface of the shank or the outside diameter of the tool so that the tool is guided radially of the gripper and fixed.
  • the axial guidance is provided by the first member, which interacts with a corresponding lug, a projection or a recess, groove or the like in the tool.
  • a shank is provided on the tool, its external profile or outside diameter being considerably larger than the diameter of the tool.
  • the invention is not however restricted to such a structure. It may be used in the same way in a tool without a shank, in which case the tool surface takes over the corresponding functions of the shank surface. The same applies to tools of the type where said shank is set back from the effective parts of the tool.
  • the shank does however have a function, particularly in automatic machining of workpieces: it defines in terms of contact surfaces the exact position of the tool in a longitudinal direction and also relative to the diameter for correspondingly accurate machining.
  • a plane face is provided on the shank for this purpose, particularly at right angles to the longitudinal axis; it is described as the functional surface and is machined extremely accurately.
  • Known grasping principles have particularly included the functional surface for holding the tool. Such a principle is disadvantageous, firstly because the functional surface may be damaged as a result of the holding forces. Secondly chips and the like may be left on the plane face under the grasping member and may not be removed from the tool, even if a frequently envisaged subsequent blowing-off step is carried out when moving the tool into and out of the magazine.
  • chips may therefore be left on the highly accurate contact surfaces, e.g. with a steep taper or an HSK shank. They may then be transported into the tool support on the work spindle, where they will cause measuring inaccuracies. But almost as a side effect, the solution according to the invention makes it unnecessary to include the functional surfaces for holding the tool; instead these surfaces are kept exposed and may be cleaned optimally with compressed air or a flushing liquid or the like.
  • a further advantage of the gripper structure is that it is comparatively compact, as said first member engages e.g. in the groove in the tool and said second member is juxtapoed, lying against the surface of the shank. If this principle is reflected in an axis or plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis, a gripper thus arranged can also grasp into the groove and another part of the shank. So with this principle, it is basically possible for two grippers to grasp the tool simultaneously. However this is the basic prerequisite for an encircling system comprising two grippers.
  • the gripper structure according to the invention provides three advantages: firstly it allows the tools to be arranged compactly in a tool rack; secondly it allows the workpiece to be encircled directly without using an additional encircling element and thirdly the gripper structure is chosen so that the functional surfaces are not required for holding, i.e. they cause no problems even when the tool is inserted in the work spindle, and the surfaces are accessible for cleaning.
  • the first member and the second member can be moved relative to each other, and in particular can be moved linearly or swivelled towards each other.
  • the proposed mobility allows the tool to be grasped and the relative mobility may be brought about by three different principles, namely solely by movement of the first or the second member or by movement of both members.
  • the mount and the choice of drive it is advantageous for the first and second members either to be movable linearly towards each other or to be swivelled towards each other, e.g. if one member is hinged.
  • the first member is stationary relative to the gripper and the second member is constructed for movement towards it.
  • the first member is preferably formed with a spring-like contact surface which engages in a peripheral groove in the shank.
  • the second member which is responsible for fixing the tool in a radial direction (the tool being fixed in an axial direction by the first member), is movable towards it.
  • the invention also relates to a machine tool equipped with either a gripper, a tool magazine system or an encircling system as described.
  • a machine tool of this type is employed particularly for machining workpieces, but it can also be used for other purposes, for example this principle may be applied to assembly machines where appropriate assembly tools are mounted in the work head by means of the invention.
  • FIGS. 1, 2 are a perspective view (FIG. 1) and a side view (FIG. 2) of a tool magazine system according to the invention
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of two grippers according to the invention in the encircling system, also according to the invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a plan view of a detail of the gripper according to the invention.
  • FIGS. 5 a , 5 b are a side view (FIG. 5 a ) and a plan view (FIG. 5 b ) of two different embodiments of the principle of the gripper according to the invention.
  • the tool magazine system is shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • the tools 2 are stored in a tool magazine 3 and picked up by a gripper 1 when required.
  • the magazine 3 may for example comprise a tool rack with a plurality of superimposed rack bases 30 .
  • the bases 30 have a vertical back 33 , on which they may be fixed to a supporting wall, supporting frame or the like (not shown.
  • the tool carrier or rack base 30 projecting substantially at right angles to the back 33 has openings 31 at its front side, facing away from the back; the openings correspond to the outside diameter of the tool or tool shank 21 to be held and form the bearing means for the tools. Appropriate shoulders are moulded in the rack base 30 in the region of the openings for that purpose.
  • a dripping sheet 32 is arranged above the tool 2 to prevent cooling liquid from dripping down from a still wet tool 2 put into the rack onto a tool below it and fouling the latter, particularly on the sensitive functional surfaces or locating surfaces (HSK shank or steep taper shank).
  • the rack bases 30 are substantially superimposed and the whole tool magazine system can therefore be made relatively compact.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the lower tool magazine 3 illustrates the use of the gripper according to the invention.
  • the gripper 1 In respect of the longitudinal axis or axis of rotation 20 the gripper 1 is fed to the tool 2 at right angles.
  • the gripper 1 is guided/moved by a manipulator (not shown) along all space axes and in respect of a plurality of rotational axes; it has two members 11 and 12 .
  • the exact form of the gripper 1 can be seen particularly from FIGS. 3 and 4.
  • FIG. 3 particularly shows the encircling of the tool 2 by two substantially identical grippers 10 , 19 .
  • the grasping of the tool 2 by the gripper 1 will first be explained in detail.
  • the gripper 1 , 10 comprises a gripper arm 16 which has two members, namely a first member 11 and a second member 12 , at its front end.
  • the two members 11 and 12 cooperate to hold the tool 2 securely.
  • the second member 12 is pivotable about an axis directed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 20 and normally arranged horizontally, i.e. it is mounted movably whereas the first member 11 is fixed to the gripper arm 16 .
  • the first member 11 has at least one contact surface 14 , 14 ′ (FIG. 4 ).
  • the contact surface 14 is spring-like, of a prismatic shape and its profile corresponds to the shape of the groove 22 in the circumference of the tool shank 21 or tool 2 .
  • This groove 22 in the circumference is commonly used in the tool development field, specifically for cutting tools and is normally a standard feature. Insertion of the contact surface 14 in the groove 22 causes the tool to be fixed axially of the longitudinal axis 20 relative to the gripper 1 .
  • the shank 21 in contact with the second member prefferably has a larger diameter or external dimensions than the rest of the tool 2 .
  • this ensures that the claw engages over half of the diameter of the tool shank 21 .
  • the second member 12 is moved over the axis of the tool in the region of the narrower diameter, then pivoted onto the shank in a movement component in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the tool.
  • Half of the diameter describes the distance which has to be overcome in order to position the outer regions of the claw-like member 12 behind the maximum outside diameter of the shank/tool.
  • an e.g. cylindrical tool shank corresponding to at least half of the diameter has to be moved into an appropriate support in order to allow the cylinder to engage from behind in the claw.
  • FIG. 4 is a view of the gripper 1 according to the invention from below.
  • the contact surfaces 13 , 13 ′ are at a peripheral spacing of less than 180° at the side of member 12 towards the claw aperture, to eliminate the two remaining degrees of freedom, the possibility of plane movement in radial mobility, in cooperation with the contact surface 14 of the first member 11 .
  • a cover 100 is provided on the second member 12 .
  • the underside of the cover need not necessarily come into contact with the tool in order to produce the holding effect.
  • the cover 100 may equally be omitted.
  • the tool 2 is grasped radially with respect to the longitudinal axis 20 .
  • the shoulders, longitudinal slots and the like which are otherwise provided on the tool shank 21 are not then necessary to secure the tool 2 .
  • the functional surfaces 23 in particular, which define an exact location and position of the tool 2 in the work spindle and/or relative to the workpiece, are not needed to grasp the tool and hence these surfaces are exposed during handling, e.g. for cleaning.
  • a gap is also left between the cover 100 and the functional surface 23 , that is to say, the internal surface of the cover 100 does not lie directly on the surface 23 .
  • This arrangement prevents the functional surface from being damaged and allows it to be cleaned at any time.
  • FIG. 4 shows that two contact surfaces 14 , 14 ′ are provided on the first member 11 , in this case the stationary one, and extend at a peripheral angle of approximately 30° with a peripheral spacing of approximately 60° to 90°. Secure supporting of the tool 2 is thus achieved.
  • a position-securing means 15 e.g. in the form of a slot block, is also provided on the first member 11 and engages in a corresponding recess in the tool.
  • the contact surfaces 13 , 13 ′ on the second member 12 are generally accurately machined and allow the front region of the second member 12 to make positive, clamping contact with the tool shank 21 .
  • the contact surface 13 , 13 ′ also extends over an angular region of approximately 15° to 30°. Alternatively no clamping need be provided here and contact substantially without any play may sometimes be sufficient.
  • FIG. 5 b shows that the principle according to the invention may be carried out not only on a closing flap basis (FIG. 5 a and FIGS. 3 and 4 respectively) but also on a tongs principle.
  • the second member 12 comprises two elements 17 , 18 which interact like claws or tongs. For this purpose they are mounted in an articulated manner about points of rotation and equipped with appropriate drives.
  • the first member 11 is located below the elements of the second member 12 .
  • the axis 20 of the tool 2 is indicated by a cross and the tool 2 is not otherwise shown.
  • first and second members 11 , 12 should be movable relative to each other.
  • a drive is provided, for example in the form of a hydraulic or pneumatic operating cylinder incorporated in the gripper arm 16 or e.g. of an electric motor.
  • This enables separate actuating means to be provided as the drive, i.e. it enables the movement of the gripper on its manipulator to be utilised so that the gripper is guided to appropriate stops and the members 11 , 12 are then moved by virtue of the drive for the gripper.
  • the separate actuation may alternatively be provided by the second gripper or other elements on the machine tool, and so on.
  • wedge-type systems, pins or the like may be provided to hold the tool 2 securely in the gripper 1 . But fixing may also be effected by appropriately constructed operating cylinders and so on.
  • Locking may, for example, equally be effected by a hydraulic or pneumatic operating cylinder. But appropriate springs (compression, tension or cup springs) may also be provided, arranged counter to the working direction of the operating cylinder. If the operating cylinder or the drive is not actuated, the force of these passive elements, e.g. the spring, acts as a locking means. If movement in the opposite direction is required, the operating cylinder has to exert enough force to overcome the force of the locking means.
  • the contact surface 14 , 14 ′ of the first member 11 is first inserted in the peripheral groove 22 of the tool shank 21 . It is equally possible to provide an annular slot, a groove, recess or shoulder or a retaining lug or the like on the tool 2 and/or the tool shank 21 instead of the peripheral groove.
  • the second member is taken to the tool shank 21 or tool 2 with a clamping action, the second member 12 engaging its surface. As shown in FIG. 5 a the second member 12 moves towards the first member 11 , in the process going through a pivoting motion directed at an acute angle or almost parallel to the longitudinal axis 20 .
  • the procedure described above may for example be reversed, with the second member 12 first being removed from the shank 21 or tool 2 and overcoming the clamping, in that the first member 11 forms an abutment for the purpose in its interaction with the tool 2 and/or tool shank 21 .
  • the clamping effect is overcome in a movement in an axial direction, with the axial fixing of the tool by the first member being utilised as an abutment.
  • the second member 12 does move sectionwise in a longitudinal direction, i.e. parallel to the longitudinal axis 20 , but only one member 12 of the gripper 1 is moved.
  • the gripper 1 as a whole is fed to the tool laterally, e.g. substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis 20 and hence it particularly allows a vertical arrangement of four superimposed tools.
  • the proposed movement of the member 12 has the effect of sliding the member 12 into a region above the tool in which the diameter is smaller, as the claw-like construction of the second member 12 has to encircle the complete tool.
  • the member 12 is therefore positioned so that it engages over the tool in the narrower region and is then guided onto the shank at an acute angle or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and is fixed to the shank with a clamping action.
  • the vertical component or a component parallel with the longitudinal axis 20 of the second member 12 is not omitted from the FIG. 5 b proposal, since a tongs or claw movement of the two elements 17 and 18 which can be moved towards each other is provided there.
  • the movement of the elements 17 , 18 either together or separately, takes place in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis 20 .
  • FIG. 3 An encircling system according to the invention for engaging round an article such as the tool 2 is shown in FIG. 3 .
  • the system comprises two rippers 10 , 19 of identical construction. However the presence of two identical grippers is not essential for the invention to be used.
  • the two grippers 10 , 19 are arranged so that they are rotated relative to an axis normal to the longitudinal axis 20 of the tool and engage the tool at different sides.
  • the construction particularly of the first member 11 , 11 ′ is chosen so that these sections engage the tool opposite one another and form a gap between them, that is to say, the first member 11 does not engage around the complete semi-circle of the tool shank 21 .
  • the second member 12 , 12 ′ engages over the widest point of the diameter of the tool 2 or tool shank 21 , though in each case on opposite sides of the shank relative to the groove 22 . Owing to the twisted arrangement the two side members 12 , 12 ′ do not collide, as they act on different sections of the shank relative to the groove 22 .

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  • Automatic Tool Replacement In Machine Tools (AREA)
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US09/918,457 2000-08-08 2001-08-01 Machine tool with gripper and/ or tool magazine system Expired - Fee Related US6783484B2 (en)

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DE10039525.2 2000-08-08
DE10039525A DE10039525A1 (de) 2000-08-08 2000-08-08 Werkzeugmaschine mit Greifer und oder Werkzeugmagazinsystem
DE10039525 2000-08-08

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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050172505A1 (en) * 2002-03-28 2005-08-11 Renishaw Plc Apparatus for changing operating modules on a coordinate positioning machine
US20050277530A1 (en) * 2004-06-14 2005-12-15 Dirk Prust Carrier for tool holders
US20110016995A1 (en) * 2007-09-14 2011-01-27 Renishaw Plc Module or tool changing for metrological probe
US20110039670A1 (en) * 2009-08-12 2011-02-17 Microlution, Inc. Machine Tool with Automatic Tool Changer

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8221297B2 (en) * 2007-01-26 2012-07-17 Faust Solutions Ltd. Storage system for tool holders
DE102012102571A1 (de) 2012-03-26 2013-09-26 Chiron-Werke Gmbh & Co Kg Werkzeugträger für einen Werkzeughalter
DE102012109065A1 (de) * 2012-09-26 2014-03-27 Chiron-Werke Gmbh & Co. Kg Werkzeuggreifer für einen Werkzeughalter
EP3351204A1 (de) 2017-01-24 2018-07-25 Martin Huber Dentalfräsmaschine
CN111902240B (zh) * 2018-09-06 2021-09-17 山崎马扎克公司 刀具保管装置、机床以及复合加工机械
CZ310056B6 (cs) * 2023-01-26 2024-06-26 VÚTS, a.s Chapač pro manipulační rameno manipulačního zařízení pro automatickou výměnu obráběcích nástrojů
EP4406695B1 (de) 2023-01-26 2025-07-02 VÚTS, a.s. Greifer für einen handhabungsarm einer handhabungsvorrichtung für den automatischen austausch von bearbeitungswerkzeugen
CZ310220B6 (cs) 2023-09-06 2024-12-04 VÚTS, a.s Držák nástrojového upínače pro zásobník pro automatickou výměnu obráběcích nástrojů

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US4041601A (en) * 1976-03-12 1977-08-16 Wells Manufacturing Corporation Machine tool with an automatic tool changer
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JPH04294952A (ja) * 1991-03-25 1992-10-19 Okuma Mach Works Ltd 工具受渡し装置
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EP0585471A1 (de) 1992-03-19 1994-03-09 Fanuc Ltd. Werkzeuggreifer
US5328224A (en) * 1990-08-06 1994-07-12 University Of Utah Research Foundation Robotic grasping apparatus
EP0623419A2 (de) 1993-05-07 1994-11-09 Niigata Engineering Co., Ltd. Automatischer Werkzeugwechsler
US5372568A (en) 1992-06-18 1994-12-13 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Machine tool with automatic tool changer, having mechanism for utilizing relative movements of tool and tool changing gripper to clamp and unclamp the tool
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JPH08257862A (ja) 1995-03-27 1996-10-08 Okuma Mach Works Ltd 工具グリッパ
US5672145A (en) * 1996-06-27 1997-09-30 Bridgeport Machines Inc. Tool carousel
US5674170A (en) * 1993-09-10 1997-10-07 Charmilles Technologies, S.A. Magazine with changer for loading a CNC machine tool or machining center
JP2000141155A (ja) 1998-11-13 2000-05-23 Toshiba Mach Co Ltd 工具交換装置
JP2000343367A (ja) 1999-06-02 2000-12-12 Mori Machinery Corp ラック式工具マガジンの工具出入庫装置

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JP3035195B2 (ja) * 1995-08-11 2000-04-17 キタムラ機械株式会社 主軸装置

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US3953039A (en) * 1974-08-30 1976-04-27 Textron Inc. Toolholder for machine tools
US4041601A (en) * 1976-03-12 1977-08-16 Wells Manufacturing Corporation Machine tool with an automatic tool changer
US4335498A (en) * 1979-03-08 1982-06-22 Textron, Inc. Machine tool
US4238034A (en) 1979-04-16 1980-12-09 Kearney & Trecker Corporation Automatic tool changer for machine tool
US4587716A (en) * 1983-06-09 1986-05-13 Trumpf Gmbh & Co. Machine tool center with multipurpose robot assembly for loading and unloading tooling and workpieces from machine tool
US4604787A (en) * 1984-08-15 1986-08-12 Transamerica Delaval Inc. Tool changer for manipulator arm
DE3440604A1 (de) 1984-11-07 1986-05-07 Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Adolf Waldrich Coburg Gmbh & Co, 8630 Coburg Automatische werkzeugwechseleinrichtung fuer werkzeugmaschinen, insbesondere fuer universalbearbeitungszentren
EP0255567A1 (de) * 1986-07-29 1988-02-10 MAHO Aktiengesellschaft Werkzeugwechsler für Universal-Fräs- und Bohrmaschinen
US4879802A (en) * 1987-05-22 1989-11-14 Chiron-Werke Gmbh & Co. Kg Gripper for tools of a machine tool
DE3812026A1 (de) * 1987-06-25 1989-01-05 Szerszamgepipari Muevek Werkzeugschaftgreifer fuer den automatischen werkzeugwechsel bei werkzeugmaschinen
US5107581A (en) * 1987-12-11 1992-04-28 Wanderer Maschinen Gmbh Tool magazine
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EP0355271A2 (de) 1988-08-23 1990-02-28 Cincinnati Milacron Inc. Greifer für Gegenstände
US4858980A (en) * 1988-08-23 1989-08-22 Cincinnati Milacron Inc. Article gripper
US5328224A (en) * 1990-08-06 1994-07-12 University Of Utah Research Foundation Robotic grasping apparatus
DE4036914A1 (de) * 1990-11-20 1992-05-21 Chiron Werke Gmbh Werkzeugwechsler fuer werkzeuge einer werkzeugmaschine
US5188579A (en) * 1990-11-20 1993-02-23 Chiron-Werke Gmbh & Co. Kg Machine tool and method for opening and closing a gripper
JPH04294952A (ja) * 1991-03-25 1992-10-19 Okuma Mach Works Ltd 工具受渡し装置
EP0585471A1 (de) 1992-03-19 1994-03-09 Fanuc Ltd. Werkzeuggreifer
US5372568A (en) 1992-06-18 1994-12-13 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Machine tool with automatic tool changer, having mechanism for utilizing relative movements of tool and tool changing gripper to clamp and unclamp the tool
US5383832A (en) 1993-04-07 1995-01-24 Stama Mashinenfabrik, Gmbh Method and machine for performing a tool change
EP0623419A2 (de) 1993-05-07 1994-11-09 Niigata Engineering Co., Ltd. Automatischer Werkzeugwechsler
US5674170A (en) * 1993-09-10 1997-10-07 Charmilles Technologies, S.A. Magazine with changer for loading a CNC machine tool or machining center
JPH08257862A (ja) 1995-03-27 1996-10-08 Okuma Mach Works Ltd 工具グリッパ
US5672145A (en) * 1996-06-27 1997-09-30 Bridgeport Machines Inc. Tool carousel
JP2000141155A (ja) 1998-11-13 2000-05-23 Toshiba Mach Co Ltd 工具交換装置
JP2000343367A (ja) 1999-06-02 2000-12-12 Mori Machinery Corp ラック式工具マガジンの工具出入庫装置

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Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050172505A1 (en) * 2002-03-28 2005-08-11 Renishaw Plc Apparatus for changing operating modules on a coordinate positioning machine
US7024783B2 (en) * 2002-03-28 2006-04-11 Renishaw Plc Apparatus for changing operating modules on a coordinate positioning machine
USRE40578E1 (en) 2002-03-28 2008-11-25 Renishaw Plc Apparatus for changing operating modules on a coordinate positioning machine
US20050277530A1 (en) * 2004-06-14 2005-12-15 Dirk Prust Carrier for tool holders
US7255667B2 (en) 2004-06-14 2007-08-14 Chiron-Werke Gmbh & Co. Kg Carrier for tool holders
US20110016995A1 (en) * 2007-09-14 2011-01-27 Renishaw Plc Module or tool changing for metrological probe
US20110039670A1 (en) * 2009-08-12 2011-02-17 Microlution, Inc. Machine Tool with Automatic Tool Changer
US8574139B2 (en) 2009-08-12 2013-11-05 Microlution, Inc. Machine tool with automatic tool changer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
PT1179387E (pt) 2004-09-30
ATE265289T1 (de) 2004-05-15
US7175579B2 (en) 2007-02-13
EP1179387A1 (de) 2002-02-13
DE10039525A1 (de) 2002-02-21
US20020028735A1 (en) 2002-03-07
EP1179387B1 (de) 2004-04-28
DE50102105D1 (de) 2004-06-03
ES2219463T3 (es) 2004-12-01
US20050020420A1 (en) 2005-01-27

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